During the European Heritage Days on September 19th and 20th, four emblematic locations along the RER Line A provided special access to the inner workings of this major Parisian transport artery.
In Saint-Germain-en-Laye, the RATP archives, housed in a former tunnel, revealed the scale of their collection. With 25 linear kilometers of documents, including historical archives dating back to the 17th century, these holdings preserve the network's memory. The visit highlighted rare items, such as the drawing for the Austerlitz viaduct, and touched upon the mystery of abandoned projects, underscoring the complexity of archival work.
Further west, the SNCF signal box in Sartrouville opened its doors. Commissioned in 1973, this post manages the circulation of approximately 750 trains daily. While now computer-controlled, it retains its original mechanical command capabilities as a backup, ensuring continuous service day and night.
In central Paris, the Maison de la RATP hosted a fascinating exhibition on the cardboard ticket. Since its introduction in 1900, the ticket has mirrored social and technical evolutions, transitioning from manual stamping to magnetic strips, and then to the 'carte orange'. The exhibition also showcased how the ticket became a cultural icon and a source of artistic inspiration.
Finally, in Bry-sur-Marne, the RATP catenary training center presented the crucial role of agents responsible for maintaining the catenary, the electrical power cable for trains. Visitors learned about the intervention equipment, the demanding nature of the job, including four-hour nightly work windows, and the importance of preventive maintenance for daily operations.
These four visits offered a unique perspective on the history, operations, and professions that make RER Line A possible, emphasizing the significance of these Heritage Days for preserving collective memory.
